Hasina seeks new passport in clearest sign of Bangladesh return

New Delhi: Ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has requested a new passport and identity card, signaling her intent to return from self-imposed exile in India, according to a letter obtained by Reuters. This marks the first official communication from Hasina since fleeing the country in 2024. The move indicates her plan to return to Bangladesh in December, more than two years after a deadly uprising ended her 20-year rule.

This development raises the possibility of fresh political and legal tensions, especially considering her party, the Awami League, is currently banned in the country. Hasina has stated her intention to surrender to a court upon her return, with the exact date yet to be announced. She has been sentenced to death in Bangladesh for ordering a crackdown on a student-led uprising, a charge she denies.

The Interim Government revoked her existing Bangladeshi passport and National Identity Card, prompting her letter to Preeti Rahman, the acting high commissioner at Bangladesh's embassy in Delhi, requesting the issuance of new documents. Rahman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's spokespersons have not yet commented on the matter.

Hasina's Awami League was once the country's largest party, but it was banned following her ousting. Many of her party members have either been jailed or are in exile in India or elsewhere. Despite her absence, Hasina still enjoys support among certain segments of the population, and her return could potentially exacerbate political divisions in Bangladesh.

The restoration of stability in the country remains a priority, while at the same time, her return could improve strained relations with India, which had previously provided refuge to Hasina.